Intermittent rotation sprinkler



Sept 17, 1940. w; A. BucKNER INTERMITTENT ROTATION SPRINKIJER Filed July21, 1957 INVENTOR VVW/A B LLCjczzel BY uw ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 17,1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to rotary water sprinklers of the type adapted tobe mounted in upstanding relation to the ground and including opposedradially disposed nozzles through which 5 the water is discharged.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a rotationcontrolling device, actuated by water discharged from one nozzle, whichwill cause the sprinkler to be given intermittent rotative impulses, andwhich at the same time and in the same direction exerts an intermittenttapping or jarring action on the rotating member of the sprinklerpreventing possible sticking of the sprinkler spindle in its bearing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for the purposewhich may be readily adjusted to alter the speed of rotation of thesprinkler as operating conditions may require.

Another object is to provide a simplilied and improved form of bearingfor the rotating spindle of the sprinkler, so that the likelihood ofsand or the like getting against the bearing surface is avoided. Anefficient form of combination annular and thrust bearing unitis alsoprovided, which is easily replaced if worn but whose wear will notalTect the efficient operation of the sprinkier or the functioning ofthe sand sealing feature.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensivedevice and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposefor which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecication and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the sprinkler with the bearing structurein section.

Figure 2 is a top plan of the rotation controlling unit of the sprinklerpartly in section.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawing, I denotes a tubular base or supporting member tapped at itslower end for connection with a vertical water Supply pipe.

Removably screwed into the member -I from the top is a bearing sleeve 2in which a tubular sprinkler head spindle 3 is turnable. A compressibleleather sand sealing washer or ring 4 engages the spindle adjacent itslower end and below the sleeve and is removably held in place, in acompressive and spindle engaging relation, between the lower end of thesleeve and an internal flange 5 in the member I.

Formed in the member I below the spindle is a central boss 6 in which anannular e-nd thrust bearing ring 'I of special wear resisting metal isremovably mounted. The ring 'I at the bottom is engaged by a ring orwasher 8 of similar metal disposed under the head of a bearing pin 9 andremovable therefrom. This pin turnably projects through the ring 'I andis removably screwed into a boss I0 disposed below but connectedintegral with the spindle by arms II so as not to interfere with thefree` iiow of water into the spindle from below.

By means of this construction it will be seen that the sleeve isjournaled along spaced areas,

,giving excellent support against any tendency to bind, while the upwardthrust is taken by the special thrust rings I and 8. The pins 9 and therings being removable, they can be easily replaced if undue wear occurs.I can also be replaced by removingthe sleeve 2, and since it engagesonly the circumferential surface of the spindle, slight vertical play ofthe spindle does not effect the sealing action.

IThe spindle at its upper end is connected to the base of the sprinklerhead I2, from which diametrally opposed and relatively short and longnozzle arms I3 and lita respectively project upwardly at an acute angleto the horizon, the arms and nozzle tips I4 providing jet openings attheir upper ends, adapted to throw water in straight radial directions.

Projecting laterally from the arm I3 near the base I2 are verticallyspaced lugs I5 between which is pivoted the adjacent end of an arm I6.This arm extends alongside the nozzle I3 to a termination beyond the tipIII, and is there connected to a water deflecting passage member IIwhich extends lengthwise of the nozzle arm. The interior of the memberl1 is preferably rectangular in cross section and is open to the tip I4.At the end of said member nearest the tip and on the side nearest thearm I6, the corresponding vertical wall of the passage slopes into thepath of water issuing from the jet opening as shown` at I8. At its outerend said vertical wall of the passage curves as at I9 to the oppositeside of the member, from which the water discharges through a sideopening 20 disposed in a vertical' plane and facing away from the armI6.

By reason of this construction it will be seen that water issuing underpressure from the jet opening of the nozzle strikes the deflectingsurface I8 and causes .the arm I6 to swing away from the nozzle arm.This movement is yieldably resisted by an adjustable tension spring 2|mounted on a rod 22 which projects through the arm I6 from a rigidconnection with the nozzle arm I3. A definite stop for the movement ofthe arm I6 is provided by a bumper 23, preferably oi noise deadeningmaterial, which is adjustably mounted' on another rod 24 also projectingthrough the arm I6 from the nozzle arm I3.

In operation water striking the deilecting member II from the nozzle tipcauses said. mem- The sealing ring ber to Ibe thrown suddenly out of thepath of the water. The arm I6 is of course likewise moved and strikesthe bumper 23 with an impact suicient to impart rotation to thesprinkler head, accompanied b-y a slight jar in the same direction whichprevents any tendency of the sprinkler spindle to bind. A certainlamount of rotative impulse is also imparted to the sprinkler by thereaction of the water issuing from the side discharge opening 2li and bythe initial movement of the arm against the spring resistance.

Once the water has thrown the arm out against the bumper, where it isclear of the path of the water, the spring immediately returns said armto its original position adjacent the nozzle arm, wh-ere the deflectoris again acted on by the water and again thrown out. The arm anddelector thus continually oscillate through the length of the strokegoverned by the position of the bumper, as long as water is issuingunder pressure from the nozzle, and thus the sprinkler is being givenconstantly recurring rotative impulses, each one of course rotatingr thesprinkler through a very small arc.

The actual speed of rotation of the sprinkler depends of course on thenumber of rotative impulses given the arm I6 by the water and this isdetermined by the adjustment of the bumper 23 along the rod 2d. This isbecause the shorter the swing or stroke of the arm, the quicker will beits return, and hence the arm will be oscillated a greater number oftimes in a given period and Vice versa. The intensity of the jarringaction of the arm against the bumper may be controlled by adjusting thetension oi the spring, since it will be evident that if the spring isquite slack the arm will fly out and hit the bumper with greater forcethan if the spring offers considerable resistance. rIhis adjustment ofthe spring also -enables the movement of the arm to be properlycontrolled according to the pressure of the water which of course mayvary at diiierent times or in different installations.

It may be here stated that the mounting of the spindle as described issuch as to provide a smaller bearing resistance than the reactionarydrive eiect obtained by water striking the deflector.

Thus while the main rotative impulse is obtained by the defiector armstriking the bumper, a certain amount of rotative action is imparted tothe sprinkler by the movement of said arm before it strikes the bumper,if the spring has suiiicient tension.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I haveproduced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as dened by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A constant direction rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler headmounted for rotation and having a nozzle member projecting therefrom andprovided with a jet opening, an arm mounted on said member foroscillatory movement in a plane substantially at right angles to theaxis of rotation of the sprinkler, a water deiiecting element rigid withsaid arm and normally positioned in the path of water issuing from saidopening and arranged with respect to the direction of water ow to bemoved in said plan-e and away from the nozzle member by the force of thewater, whereby said arm will also be swung away from the member, abumper fixed with the member in position to be engaged by the arm afterit has swung out a predetermined distance, and means to return the armto its normal position.

2. A device as in claim 1 with means to adjust the position of thebumper whereby to alter the throw of the arm.

3. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotationand having a nozzle member projecting therefrom and provided with a jetopening, an arm mounted on said member for oscillatory movement in aplane substantially at right angles to the airis oi rotation of thesprinkler, a water deiiecting element rigid with said arm andnormallypositioned in the path of vwater issuing from said opening andarranged with respect to the direction of water flow to be moved awayfrom the nozzle member by the force ci the water, whereby said arm willalso be swung away from the member, a bumper xed with the memberinposition to be engaged by the arm after it has swung out a predetermineddistance, a spring to return th-e arm to its normal position, means toalter the eiifectiveness of the spring.

4. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotationand having a nozzle member projecting therefrom and provided with a ietopening, an arm mounted for oscillatory movement on said member, meansprovided with the arm whereby water issuing from the jet opening underpressure will swing the arm away from the member, means to return thearm to its normal position whereby the arm will constantly oscillate aslong as a jet of water under pressure emerges from the opening and meansbetween the arm and member to impart a rotative irnpulse to the m-emberwith each oscillation thereof, and means to vary the number ofoscillations of the arm in a given period and without altering thepressure of the water.

-5. A rotary sprinkler comprising a sprinkler head mounted for rotationand having a nozzle member projecting therefrom and provided withv berwith each outward movement of the arm,l

and means to alter the length of the outward stroke of' the arm.

WlLLlAM A. BUCKNER.

